NBA Eastern Conference: Most important need for each Southeast Division team heading into the NBA Draft

The just completed 2018-19 NBA season was not kind to the Southeast Division. The only team to see playoff action in 2019 were the Orlando Magic and they needed an 8-2 finish in their last ten games to secure a playoff spot. The Magic proceeded to last 5 games against the eventual NBA Champions the Toronto Raptors, stealing a 104-101 series-opening game on a D.J. Augustin 3-pointer.

Other than the Magic’s 42-40 record placing them 7th in the Eastern Conference, the remaining 4 teams in the Southeast Division missed the playoffs. As a result, the Division’s teams will make 7 draft selections in the 1st round of the 2019 NBA Draft and three of those selections belong to the Atlanta Hawks. Here is a look at the needs that each Southeast Division team might be looking to address at the 2019 NBA Draft.

#5 Atlanta Hawks

2018-19 NBA regular season: 12th seed with a 29-53 record

The Atlanta Hawks had a poor season record-wise at 29-53. They did benefit from the exciting talents of one rookie Trae Young whom they acquired at last year's draft along with Dallas’ 1st round pick for 2019 for the rights to Luka Doncic who was the only rookie to outplay Trae Young this season.

Along with John Collins, the Hawks have a splendid inside out combo but need more. Young struggled in shooting accuracy (41.8% and 3-point shooting 32.4%) mainly because he was relied on heavily to produce and create offense. The Hawks also need some experienced ball handlers to make better decisions with the basketball as they were last in turnovers committed.

With the 8th, 10th, and 17th overall picks in the draft, the Hawks could improve their fortunes at the NBA Draft. The Hawks need shooters and Duke University standout Cameron Reddish could help with the #8 selection. Reddish was somewhat inconsistent for Duke but could help take the pressure off of Trae Young with his shooting and ball handling.

With the 10th pick, Atlanta may do well to select Gonzaga junior Rui Hachimura. At 6’8”, Hachimura is a versatile PF/SF who is a good decision maker and would provide Atlanta with another young talent who can make wise passes in an effort to cut down on turnovers Hachimura is also athletic and has a good mid-range game again adding another scorer who will help Young be more judicious in his shot selection and shot frequency.

The Hawks also own the 17th pick and if P.J. Washington from Kentucky University is available he might also be a great pick up for the Hawks. He is a good mid-range scorer and shot the 3-pointer at a 42.3% clip in his sophomore year.

If they get this trio of young talent added to the roster, the potential with three 6’8” wing players to defend the perimeter, shoot from long range, run the floor and handle the basketball with smartness would improve the Hawks' on-court performance significantly. If not immediately, they will be a better team in the near future.

#4 Washington Wizards

2018-19 NBA regular season: 12th seed with a 32-50 record

The Washington Wizards who fell to the Toronto Raptors in the 2018 NBA Playoffs in a 6-game 1st round series failed to make the playoffs in 2019. Injuries also derailed any hopes the Wizards had for playoff aspirations such as Dwight Howard suffering back troubles requiring surgery and John Wall suffering a season-ending torn left Achilles injury.

The Wizards need a lot if they expect to return to the playoffs. It all starts with a center to rebound and protect the rim at the defensive end for this squad. The Wizards scored 114 ppg in 2019 but gave up 116 ppg. While they were 29th in opponents' scoring average they were also 27th in total and defensive rebounding. A strong rebounding center could clean up the single possession the Wizards lost games by with the ability to reduce their defensive slack of giving up 9.7 rpg.

The Wizard hold the 9th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and they may want to look at drafting either Bruno Fernando at 6’10 out of Maryland or Jaxson Hayes at 6’11 from Texas.

#3 Miami Heat

2018-19 NBA regular season: 10th seed with a 39-43 record

The Miami Heat fell out of playoff contention in 2019 and saw one of the greats of the game retire from their roster at the end of the season. The prime areas where the Heat need improvement is in scoring (as they finished 2019 27th in the Association), ball handling (they were 23rd in turnovers), and 3-point shooting (they finished 21st in the NBA in 3-point shooting).

The fourth area of concern would be at the center position where Hassan Whiteside seems to have regressed having played his least number of minutes per game since 2015 at 23.3 mpg and his lowest scoring average at 12.3 ppg.

To address these issues, in the 2019 NBA Draft the Heat should use the 13th pick to select either Nickeil Alexander-Walker, a 6’5 shooting guard from Virginia Tech or Sekou Doumbouya, a 6’9 SF/PF from France. With Alexander-Walker, the Heat would be able to address passing, decision making with the ball, and long range shooting. He is also a good defender having averaged 1.9 steals per game as a sophomore. He would certainly fit Miami’s defensive mindset as a team and bring more offense to the club.

In the case of France’s Doumbouya, he is a strong two-way player who is athletic and runs the floor extremely well in transition. He would provide Miami’s offense with a good slashing forward who can create scoring opportunities off of the dribble and he possesses a good quick first step. Doumbouya is also a good set shooter as well who could help space the floor and raise Miami’s perimeter effectiveness.

#2 Charlotte Hornets 39-43

2018-19 NBA regular season: 9th seed with a 39-43 record

The Hornets missed the 2019 NBA playoffs by 2 games. This now means at the 2019 NBA Draft they will select a prospect #12 and #36 overall. The good part for Charlotte this season was that Kemba Walker took his game to a new level showcasing an improved shooting stroke and the ability to make the clutch game-winning plays.

The real bad news is he is a free agent in the summer of 2019 and his departure while not guaranteed would create a huge hole at the point guard position for the Hornets. At the bottom third of most offensive categories like field goal percentage, points scored, assists, and rebounding, the Hornets need to fill a number of issues at the 2019 NBA Draft.

In the first round, a player like Jaxson Hayes at 6’11 with a 7’4 wingspan and good athleticism and speed could help the floundering Hornets franchise. For a big man, he has good speed getting up and down the floor. His quickness makes him a good help defender while his length and athleticism allow him to protect the rim at the defensive end. His size and length make him a great target for alley-oops and lob passes on the offensive end which would help Charlotte’s overall offensive efficiency.

With their second-round pick, the Hornets should address finding a ball handler or shooter making either Purdue’s PG Carson Edwards or Florida’s State’s Terance Mann options for Charlotte in the second round. Edwards is a good shooter and could be groomed to replace Kemba Walker if needed. On the other hand, Mann can defend and rebound the ball. At 6’6, he can post up smaller guards finishing well around the basket and against contact as well.

#1 Orlando Magic 42-40

2018-19 NBA regular season: 8th seed with a 42-40 record

The Magic were the lone Southeast Division participant in the 2019 NBA Playoffs. They lasted just 5 games against the eventual NBA Champions Toronto Raptors. The Magic had Nikola Vucevic representing them as their lone All-Star averaging a double-double in points and rebounds in the 2018-19 season. The Magic’s needs are varied and include better perimeter defense and more consistent field goal shooting as they were 18th in the NBA in 2019.

The Magic were also 30th in the NBA in free throws attempted so they need to show more of an interior game to open up shots for shooters but also keep defenders at an honest one on one. A tougher interior offense would also get opponents into foul trouble and provide easy scoring for Orlando from the free throw line.

Orlando selects 16th and 46th at the 2019 NBA Draft. In the first round, Orlando would do well if they drafted an offensive power forward like P.J. Washington who has great instincts at the offensive end of the court. He can post-up, shoot the jump hook and play above the rim because of his athleticism.

While every team is ultra focused on long-range shooting, it's still not possible to win consistently in basketball without some type of mid-range or high percentage scoring and Washington would attract double teams opening up easy shots for perimeter shooters on the Magic.

In the second round, a PF like 6’9 Jalen McDaniels from San Diego State would be another lanky forward with a 7’0 wingspan. McDaniels' length makes him hard to defend as he can score over opponents. He does draw a fair amount of contact when he attacks the paint and would make Orlando a more physical team around the basket. McDaniels would also provide the Magic with another rebounder as he averaged 8.3 rpg as a sophomore.